Politics & Government

Lakewood's First Pedestrian Bridge Project On Track

City will contribute $62,428 of the estimated $4.6 million for the Lakewood Station Connection Project. Estimated time of completion is spring before the arrival of the Sound Transit train by the end of the year.

There's just one component missing from the Lakewood Station Connection Project that includes a $33 million parking garage and transit center:

The Sounder Train.

But before the ST begins servicing Lakewood and other public transit users, the pedestrian bridge must be completed. It consists of a bridge from the Lakewood Station parking garage across the existing railroad tracks to Kendrick Street SW and includes a plaza area that will connect the bridge structure to a cul-de-sac at the roadway's southern terminus, according to city documents.

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Area residents living in the Lakeview Community neighborhood along with St. Claire Hospital employees and patients will gain access to the new Sound Transit train when it arrives by the end of the year.

People would be forced to walk a mile using existing sidewalks to access the ST. The bridge provides direct access.

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Lakewood city officials discussed the project during Monday night's study session. Staff says the project should be completed by spring before the train arrives at the end of the year.

Ninety percent of the design is finished and the project will go out to bid within the next couple of months, according to Jeff Gonzales, an engineer in the city's public works department.

The city was successful in leveraging funds in the project, Gonzalez said. City documents show the city has received $3.6 million in total grant funding for engineering design, right-of-way acquisition and construction. ST will contribute an additional $1 million to the project for a total of $4.6 million in funding from outside sources.

Lakewood will contribute just $62,428.

Staff is expected to come back to the council within the next several weeks for an agreement between ST and the city for the Pedestrian Connection at the Lakewood Station. The agreement, according to city documents, will memorialize the operations and maintenance terms of the bridge. The city will pay for security and maintenance of the bridge and parking garage.

The city announced it would claim responsibility of the pedestrian project after Pierce Transit announced funding constraints and was unable to come up with the local match to complete the design and was prepared to return the grant money, city documents show. The grant was subsequently transferred as a city of Lakewood project in 2009.


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